Photo by Bob Wilson
Bob Arnold of Longhouse has passed along the information that Diane di Prima is in dire need of help with medical bills. Here is information from Michael McClure:
Diane is suffering with several painful and even life-threatening illnesses, including removal of all teeth, arthritis from her earlier back operation, extreme problems with glaucoma and a needed operation; but that’s just the top of the list. Despite all, she is in unexpectedly fine spirits. If you know of any way to help her, she would appreciate it and I would also.
This post from The Poetry Foundation gives more information. A webpage has been set up on Giving Forward to make donations for Diane. I've dug deep to help out; Diane has been so incredibly generous with her work in tiny Lilliput Review. We all know how badly the healthcare system is broken and how well the profession of poetry pays. As of this writing, in a short amount of time, over $15,000 has been raised of the projected goal of $20,000. Even as a few bucks is a big help.
If you can help, please do. Thanks for taking the time.
got in & now it's not so easy
to get out, huh, Bee?
Same for you as for me.
Diane di Prima
(from Seminary Poems)
best,
Don
for the poor
there's not a spring
without blossoms!Issa
translated by David G. Lanoue
best,
Don
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6 comments:
Will share this along on Fb and at word pond. With the help of the poets Bob Arnold, Ana Božičević, Amy King, Michael McClure and yourself, Diane di Prima's health is bound to be strengthened. Glad to hear her spirits remain vibratory. Thanks, Don. ~ Donna
OneStop
One stop at Mac’s Back’s book store
Lost me $13.84 and there it was I gained Diane’s words
Between shocking purple printed design, it was
Singing to me for years and I finally caught on
And I was in luck, the book was signed on the front page,
I knew I had a treasure
This cool chic with her Buddhist alibi beats rantings on
And casually speaking of Ginsberg, Pound
I had to stop in the street and pull the baby’s carriage back
A bit and put the paperback in my pocket
Before we lost our lives.
Yeah, that good.
Like this wheel goin’ round, the words opening that
Revolving door where the enlightened ones are sitting
Back there with mighty pen shields and great laughter
That ease the tears of poets-
And we’re all cryin with our heads on someone’s
Plate dressed like a puppet
Our strings out of tune
Our strings badly bruised
Our strings made of telephone wires and t.v. cords and grape vine wraths and ignoramus antidotes and media frenzies and salon-styled politics and staturistic stimulus and economic blunders and cold, hard cash and forgotten souls dangling from gold plated rope-
With our necks stuck out on America’s doormats, waiting
For the Feds to bust in waiving rifles
At frail children like they did Elian, so we can burn tires in the street and scream “ AMERICA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!”
This book in my pocket vibrating like a bomb
Her words a wailing out all over the pages
I sit down on the concrete grass and turn out the goods of the poet,
Wondering, if we shall ever stop crying.
copywrite 1996 kara E Goergen
Don, Is there a place set up to send donations to? I'm sure, although we might not have much to share, if a lot of us shared that tiny bit it might just help a bit?
Thanks, Donna, for passing the word.
Really appreciated.
Thanks for the poem, Kara.
Merrill:
Here's the link for donations - also in the post itself:
Donations for Diane di Prima
Thanks so much - yes, even the smallest amount is helpful.
Don
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